A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CHEMISTRY PHD STUDENT - hybrid lab work and working from home day 🧪

TL;DR

Follow a PhD student's day as she works on data analysis, collaborates on a research paper, and juggles lab work.

Transcript

laughs Hello friends welcome to my Channel or welcome back to my channel if you've watched some of my videos before if you haven't watched any of my videos before my name is Jessica and I'm a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen and I study in the field of natural products chemistry so it is almost 2 p.m and as you will already have... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🔬 Jessica shows the challenges of data analysis in research, including questioning results and seeking validation from collaborators.
• 🥶 Collaboration in research is crucial, as seen in Jessica's interaction with her co-author to review and discuss results.
• 😥 Preparation and organization, like making bullet points for meetings and planning lab work, are essential for a successful research process.
• ⌛ A mix of using Excel and specialized software like Sigma plot highlights the balance between time efficiency and visual appeal in graph-making.
• 👨‍🔬 Jessica stresses the importance of biosynthesis studies and proposing mechanisms for compound production in her research.
• ✍️ Physical research materials like books provide a unique perspective and break from digital resources for Jessica's thesis writing.
• 🥳 The day-to-day life of a PhD student involves juggling lab work, meeting preparation, data analysis, and collaborating on research papers.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Jessica spend her mornings working from home?

Jessica focuses on data analysis, questioning her results, and preparing for a collaborative meeting on her research paper.

Q: What tools does Jessica use for graph-making in her research?

Jessica uses Excel for most of her graphs but occasionally uses Sigma plot for more aesthetic results, weighing the trade-offs in visual appeal versus time efficiency.

Q: How does Jessica handle her anxieties before a meeting?

Jessica prepares bullet points to guide her discussions, ensuring she covers essential points and doesn't overlook crucial details.

Q: What research topics does Jessica focus on in her studies?

Jessica delves into natural products chemistry, specifically studying Marine vertebrates and their compound production for her thesis.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• PhD student Jessica works on data analysis for a research paper collaborating with others.

• She struggles with questioning results but seeks guidance and support.

• Jessica showcases her lab work, preparation of bacterial cultures, and insights into her research process.